When Terrorism Hits Close

Yesterday there was a terrorist attack on this bridge in downtown London.

The tour bus we were on crossed over that bridge on Friday and I took this photo…These people are all enjoying their day, just like the people who were killed yesterday. Terrorism doesn’t discriminate. Terrorists do, but terror doesn’t.

This is a photo of my daughter-in-law that my son took on this very bridge exactly one year ago, to the day, of yesterday’s attack. She is pregnant with our sweet Stella. Terrorism is hitting close to home for us this week, both literally and figuratively.

My heart breaks thinking of the path of pain and anguish the families of the murdered people are walking today. No one woke up yesterday morning expecting it would be their last day on earth. None of us do.

It is interesting the way the news over here handled this event: they declared this a terror event until it is proved otherwise. In the U.S. we must prove it is terror before we call it that. Why? Which is the better/wiser path?

I believe that there is a war going on and many of us refuse to call it that. I think that we don’t want to have to adopt an “at-war” mindset. Things must be dealt with differently if we have a defined enemy. However, I think this is a war against good and evil, and it has been going on for a long time.

I recently read a comment by someone I respect who attributed many people’s fear of terrorists/terrorism to a post-9/11 mindset. Perhaps that is true for some people. Maybe 9/11 opened the eyes of some people to see religious terrorism for the first time, but many of us recall our history and Sunday School lessons.

From before Thomas Jefferson and the Shores of Tripoli, to the USS Cole  this is a battle our nation has been engaged in for a very long time.

There are evil people who want to conquer the world, and it appears, they are gaining ground. Our transient culture and our open-minded, open-hearted, open-border society has opened the door of our cities to evil.

I don’t pretend to be an authority on this, but I do know that this wickedness, this evil, extends far beyond radical Islam. Islam is one of many tools that Satan is using to wreak havok, create chaos, instill fear, and win the world. The battle between good and evil precedes 9/11-style terrorism by several thousand years. This battle began before the world was created (Genesis 3; Revelation 12:9).

This is not just a battle for physical ground (for real estate) it is a battle for the souls of all people. This battle is ultimately fought within the heart and mind of every individual. Every single person born must choose the side with which to align: God or evil.

We cannot save the world, as much as we may want to. Our hearts ache for the people who are caught up in the unfolding of this horror, whether it is the young mom on a bridge in London, the children in Syria, or the person whose fear of a terrorist attack paralyzed them such that they won’t go to the mall, to sports events, or to the Fourth of July fireworks.

We do not know what tomorrow will bring, we do not know if we will be alive at the end of today; but we do not have to live bound by the chains of terror, terrorists, or terrorism.

Many people have died in this war already, and many will yet die. We cannot prevent physical death. Nevertheless, we can make a difference. We can diminish Satan’s foothold by spreading truth. It is truth that sets us free (John 8:32); free to love, free to stand firm, free to pray, and free from fear. We do that by spreading the truth of who Jesus is, and the gospel of his salvation (John 3:16; Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:6-11).

We are at war, yes, however, our enemy has been defeated. Past tense. He was defeated at the cross. Jesus defeated death (1 Corinthians 15). We may die physically, but death is not to be feared, it is death that ushers us into the presence of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:6-9).

Do you fear terrorism? We cannot prevent it, but we can prepare for it. We prepare by accepting Jesus as our Sovereign and our Savior. By personally and individually receiving the work that he accomplished for us, as our substitute, on the cross. We commit to live for him; to allow him to live his life through us.

The people who died at the hands of evil yesterday never saw it coming. Are you prepared to face Jesus, should your life end today? Have you reconciled your heart and life, your choices, your desires, and your actions with Almighty God through confession and repentance (1 John 1:9)?

There is a terrorist silently and secretly fighting for your soul. He is prowling like a lion looking for someone to devour. Will it be you? Or have you entrusted your eternity to the only One who is able to keep you from stumbling, and who will bring you into his glorious presence innocent of sin and with great joy (Jude 24)?

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